Investigators say that Harvell and a boy that lives nearby were caught by a witness in a wooded area near the man’s home engaging in a lewd and lascivious sex act with the child. Harvell is said to have spotted the witness, pulled up his pants, and ran with the child. The witness called Sheriff’s deputies.

Deputies were able to locate the boy and identify Harvell. The child was taken to Carteret General Hospital for examination. Harvell is said by investigators to have resisted arrest, but was taken into custody at his home Saturday morning.

Harvell is a convicted sex offender who was placed on the NC registry after being released from prison. Harvell was first convicted in 1982 of Indecent Liberties with a Child in Carteret County. In 1992 he was charged with Crimes against Nature and Indecent Liberties with a Child in Craven County. In 2000 he was convicted of Indecent Liberties with a 6-year-old child in Carteret County. In 2007 he was convicted of two counts of Indecent Liberties with a 7-year-old child in connection with a 2004 Pamlico County incident. He was released from prison in September of 2012 and is required to be registered as a lifetime recidivist.

Harvell was charged with “Indecent Liberties w/a Child” and “Attempted First Degree Sex Offense” on a child. He was placed in the Carteret County Jail under a 1.5 million dollar bond and is scheduled for his first court appearance on Monday.

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